Michy Batshuayi was Chelsea’s hero as they came from behind to defeat Watford 4-2 in a roller-coaster game at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian striker scored two goals after his introduction around the hour mark, and spearheaded Chelsea’s comeback from 2-1 down.
The score line was harsh on a Watford side who had gone toe to toe with the champions and been the better side for much of the game. It was a belter of match, with tackles flying in and chances created at both ends of the pitch.
Pedro opened the scoring with a brilliant curling effort to put Chelsea ahead, but this served only to inspire Watford. For the first hour they dominated the match, their high energy across the pitch allowing them to swarm all over Chelsea. They were scored a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time through Abdoulaye Doucouré, and then took the lead in the 49th minute after Roberto Pereya was left unmarked to score.
Chelsea, for their par,t looked flat for much of the game. There was no pace to their play and they lacked the vigour of last season. In midfield Tiémoué Bakayoko failed to impose himself on the game and was knocked off the ball far too easily on a number of occasions. His passing was poor and he was overshadowed by the impressive Doucouré for Watford.
In the second half the Hornets had two free headers in the Chelsea box, and perhaps should have made the game safe there and then.
Eden Hazard showed flashes of what he is capable of but he is still a long way from his bewitching form of last season. Even Cesc Fabreags played a number of uncharacteristically loose balls, as Chelsea searched desperately for a spark to get them back into the game.
That spark was provided by the introduction Michy Batshuayi for the ineffective Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard was well shackled by the Watford defence, and questions remain over whether he is fully fit.
Batshuayi immediately looked sharper than Morata and offered a lot more as the focal point of Chelsea’s attack.
The Blues, so slow and laboured in possession for much of the match, also found joy in probing the wide areas. Batshuayi equalised with a glancing header across goal from a cross, and Cesar Azplicueta made it 3-2 using a combination of head and shoulder to turn in a whipped ball in from Willian.
In the last 20 minutes Chelsea were hammering on the door, and Watford could not keep them at bay. Batshuayi added a fourth after holding off the defence before prodding home past the keeper. It was an unconvincing display from the champions, but an invaluable three points after a tough run of results.
